When you've made the decision to expose your greatest and most personal asset to the open market this can seem overwhelming and maybe even scary. Most people have mixed feelings about selling and moving on, even if they have great reasons to do so. Selling your home in today's fast paced market means that agents must focus on EXPOSURE, smart STRATEGY and firm NEGOTIATIONS. These skills are going to reap you, the seller, the greatest results. My past clients can attest to my experience at all 3 levels. They know that working with me and combining these three skills, they have a winning combination for success.
 
Is the final price your bottom line? Many of my clients say that's only part of it.....what I personally bring to the table with each transaction is my commitment to you, the seller to make the whole experience, from start to finish as stress free, seamless and perhaps even a fun experience! From our 1st meeting you will know that I will personally take you through the entire process. From listing contract to closing day. Don't be fooled by some agents who show up to your home to sign the listing agreement, never to be seen or heard from again. I don't work that way. Even though I often have several listings on the go at any given time, most of my clients tell me they feel like they are my only client. Isn't that how you want to be treated?

I respect my business and I'm always honored when new clients allow me the opportunity to earn their business. Together, we can get your house sold for the most amount of money and in the quickest amount of time....doesn't that sound great!

 

Buy First or Sell First

While the answer to this basic question is as individual as you are, here are some things to consider. 
Generally speaking, under most market conditions, real estate professionals advise listing your present home and shopping for your new home simultaneously. Nonetheless, you should talk to me, Jo-Ann, about your personal situation, so you can consider how fast you need to sell and how long you should expect it to take in current market conditions.

If you have very specific criteria – like location, size, views, age, etc. which could lead to a time-consuming home search – you should consider finding and buying a home first before you sell your existing home. If necessary, your offer to buy a home can be contingent on selling yours. On the other hand, if you sell first, you can make your sale dependent on finding a home to buy.

Seasonality can play a role in deciding when to sell – with spring and fall the most popular seasons to put a home on the market. I can help you consider the effect of other factors like interest rates and consumer confidence in the economy.

 

Preparing to Sell

Here's how to be certain your home will be its most appealing to a potential buyer. 
It's important to have someone take an unbiased look at your home's appeal. A knowledgeable Realtor, such as myself, will offer specific suggestions that let you add to its value without spending a lot of money. Here are some everyone should consider.

• Make a great first impression.

  • Well-cared-for lawn and landscaping

  • Seasonal door decoration

• Make all necessary repairs.

• Remove clutter to make your home more spacious.

  • Neat closets

  • Organized basement

• Keep things light and bright.

  • Sunny, well-lit rooms look larger

  • Fresh paint makes them seem new

• Highlight your home's best features.

  • Arrange your furnishings to spotlight a beautiful view

  • Use colors to draw attention to a charming fireplace

• Add special touches to create an inviting atmosphere

  • Fresh flowers

  • Scented candles

• Offer a Home Warranty – Beyond the cosmetic, this warranty adds appeal by assuring potential buyers that essential utilities and appliances won't present unexpected expenses. To learn more of the details, you can ask me.

 

Setting the Right Price

Here's a pricing strategy that, because it's sensitive to market trends, is more likely to result in the best selling price. 
Naturally, the location, property size/features, style, age, physical condition, special features, and recent enhancements must all be considered in assessing your home's value. As a starting point, though, I will thoroughly research comparable homes in your neighborhood and town. Recent sale prices, the current prices of similar homes, and even homes that didn't sell and were taken off the market will all be reviewed for you.

To analyze the data, I'll do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to project local factors in the many market influences that impact price – including supply of homes versus demand, how the local economy is faring, and home appreciation rates – to determine your home's Fair Market Value.

An attractive initial listing price, based on Fair Market Value, is especially important. As you can see, pricing greatly affects the number of buyers your home will attract. And homes almost always gain the most attention when their listings are new to the market.

 

Marketing Your Home

Here's what it will take to attract potential buyers for your home. 
The process begins with getting to know you and your home. In our initial meeting, before you ever commit to hiring a realtor, I will take exterior and interior photos, and assess your home's key features. I will also ask about any improvements you may have made over the years and listen to whatever concerns you may have.

I will then create a customized marketing plan based on everything learned in that first visit. This will provide you with a clear idea of what will be done to attract the most potential buyers to your home.

Once you list with Grand Strand Homes & Land Realty, I will immediately start putting the plan into action to help you achieve a timely sale at the best possible price.

 

Open Houses

Bringing buyers in

Here's why I strongly recommend Open Houses. 
Consider this startling fact: almost 3 of every 4 homebuyers visit at least one open house*. Although not everyone decides to hold an Open House, it is an especially powerful marketing technique. Open Houses lead directly to thousands of home sales each year.**

More than just an Open House, in fact, I take a 3-step process. I've learned that what's done beforehand and after are just as important to selling your home as the Open House itself.

Step one: Use every means to drive customers to attend.

• Online and traditional advertising

• Open House signs

Step two: Don't just "show" the home, conduct tours.

• Explain your home's benefits using detailed highlight sheets

• Emphasize its affordability by presenting several mortgage options

Step three: Follow up

• Contact every visitor who signed your guest registry

• Usually with an email or phone call within 24 hour

 

Reaching an Agreement

Here's the help you can expect after receiving an offer. 
When an offer is made on your house, it probably won't be for your full asking price, so you may want to counter that offer. That's where the negotiating skills of your Realtor will come in. Rest assure that I am well qualified to negotiate on your behalf with your best interests in mind.

If the buyer counters your counteroffer, you'll need help to frame your next move. Rather than just going back and forth on price, introducing another issue can be a winner for you. For instance, I may suggest to the buyer that while your price is firm, you will agree to leave behind major appliances that the buyer would otherwise have to purchase out-of-pocket.

I can negotiate favorable terms for you as well. A flexible or delayed closing date, for example, can give you the time you need to purchase another home. Conversely, an early closing date can have real financial benefit if you've already purchased another home and need to close quickly to avoid carrying two mortgages.

When you receive an offer, and especially if you receive more than one, you should consider how "solid" the offer is. I can help you assess offers by weighing such crucial factors as to whether the buyer has a mortgage pre-approval, how much they're putting down, whether they have a home to sell first, and so on.

Sometimes the most emotionally charged negotiating follows the various home inspections that come after the contract is signed. "Who pays for what" is strictly a matter of negotiation, and I will help you take a balanced stance that's tough enough to protect the home equity you want to walk away with, yet has enough flexibility to avoid alienating the buyer and jeopardizing the sale itself.